Amazon's new Alexa lineup, including Gen 3 Echo Dot, speakerless Input, first subwoofer, and Link amp, could affect the smart-home installation channel and Sonos position in unexpected ways.

The echo link amp appears to have an IR window on the front bottom right corner. Does anyone know if the Echo Link Amp has an IR Remote control along with Alexa voice control. IR it indeed does have IR, it would be great to use for TV audio for rooms with built in speakers (ie, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom etc ....) Hey Julie can you reach out to Amazon and find out if the Echo Link Amp will have and IR Remote. I’ve searched everywhere and keep seeing the IR target in the bottom corner on pictures however no journalist or blogger has mentioned what the IR window on the front of the Echo Link Amp is for or if it has an IR remote. I’m surprised nobody’s asked this question

Posted by BenHobbs on December 28, 2018

We know that Amazon can make fairly good products, cheap, however the method of listening through Amazons/Alexa interface is way too clunky - so they have to fix that first, as this article rightly mentions. Secondly I’d be worried about having Amazon suddenly decide to blast Alexas voice out through my speakers or launch into an advert, I’m 50/50 about boxing up my Alexa components and selling them off as it’s just not reliable enough and I’ve had Alexa interrupt my life with adverts or gibberish much more often recently. You can read more on my Smart Home Blog at www.h3-digital.com/smarthomeblog

2 Comments

Posted by BenHobbs on December 28, 2018

We know that Amazon can make fairly good products, cheap, however the method of listening through Amazons/Alexa interface is way too clunky - so they have to fix that first, as this article rightly mentions. Secondly I’d be worried about having Amazon suddenly decide to blast Alexas voice out through my speakers or launch into an advert, I’m 50/50 about boxing up my Alexa components and selling them off as it’s just not reliable enough and I’ve had Alexa interrupt my life with adverts or gibberish much more often recently. You can read more on my Smart Home Blog at www.h3-digital.com/smarthomeblog

Posted by djsedm on October 11, 2018

The echo link amp appears to have an IR window on the front bottom right corner. Does anyone know if the Echo Link Amp has an IR Remote control along with Alexa voice control. IR it indeed does have IR, it would be great to use for TV audio for rooms with built in speakers (ie, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom etc ....) Hey Julie can you reach out to Amazon and find out if the Echo Link Amp will have and IR Remote. I’ve searched everywhere and keep seeing the IR target in the bottom corner on pictures however no journalist or blogger has mentioned what the IR window on the front of the Echo Link Amp is for or if it has an IR remote. I’m surprised nobody’s asked this question